Wegman, Thomas Henry

Thomas Henry Wegman

Tom Wegman died peacefully at home in Iowa City on June 8, 2012. Family and friends will gather Saturday, July 28, at The Kirkwood Room from 4 to 7 p.m. to celebrate and remember Tom.

Tom was born to Clarence and Dorothy Wegman in Carroll, Iowa, on June 13, 1930. After graduating from high school in Atlantic, Iowa, where he excelled in football, he spent three years at the University of Iowa majoring in business. For the next six years he traveled the world with the U. S. Air Force, becoming a captain and flying B17 planes. After retiring from the Air Force he returned to Iowa City to complete a BFA degree. While in the service he became interested in art and met Marcia Neuman through the art department, taking painting classes. They were married the following year. Tom had two years at the Chicago Art Institute, then returned to the University of Iowa for an MFA in art, with a major in painting.

They had two children. Kyle died in the crash of a small private plane in 1975, when he was 12. Syril, two years younger, followed in her father's footsteps, graduated from the Chicago Art Institute and became a professional artist.

Tom and Marcia started a little antiques store in Iowa City in 1961, naming it Things & Things & Things.

Two years later they moved the store downtown and expanded into other merchandise. After the store was destroyed in a fire in January 1970, they built a new store which became a destination place in downtown Iowa City. Tom's sister Doris Marchael became a partner in the store a few years later.

Although Tom loved the creative challenge of running this multi-leveled small specialized department store his real passion was riding and tinkering with motorcycles. An accident during a motorcycle race in 1986 resulted in Tom's becoming a paraplegic. Tom's indomitable spirit then truly came to the fore.

Tom and Marcia divorced and Tom married Kathleen Sandstrom. He continued to run the store with his partners while he developed a passion and talent for bead art. The store was closed in 1995 which gave Tom more time to explore this new art form. Together Tom and Kathy became nationally known bead artists, traveling the country showing and selling their unique beaded objects at large juried craft shows. They continued making and showing their art work until shortly before Tom's death. Their art may be viewed at www.tomandkathywegman.com

Tom was preceded in death by his parents; his brother; and his son, Kyle.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy; his daughter and granddaughter, Syril and Lexie Strickler of Irvine, Calif.; his sister, Doris Marchael (Pat Foster) of Iowa City; his former wife, Marcia Wegman of Iowa City; and nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Tom's name to Iowa City Hospice or the National Spinal Cord Injury Association, Box 167, Iowa City, IA 52244.

Arrangements are with Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service, where friends may send online condolences to www.lensingfuneral.com

Published June 11, 2012 in The Gazette